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This summer my big boys (Mr1 and Mr2) are going to really solidify our multiplication facts. They both know them (especially Mr1) but we just need to polish off the skill and increase their speed without having to use skip counting. Skip counting has been a wonderful base for them through Classical Conversations Foundations but they need to take it to the next level of skill. I did some asking around and some research and found Multiplication Facts That Stick: Help Your Child Master the Multiplication Facts for Good in Just Ten Weeks (Facts That Stick).
We are all really enjoying this book and method! It is set up for each times table to be practiced for 5 days. Each day takes no more than 20 minutes and includes simple games with things most folks have on hand. A deck of cards, dice, and simple counters. We used two different beans and glass beads. Since I am using this for two children at a time and I’d like to keep it on hand for when my two younger boys are of age if they need the extra review I use dry erase markers, sheet protectors and put them all in a binder.
Each day I pull that days game and practice sheets and put them into sheet protectors. We follow the directions for that specific day, play the game and then each of them completes the practice pages. Both of them are seeing how much faster they are at their facts! The explanation helps show the student what the facts mean and shows them so it’s more than them simply reciting the number sentence. I also really like how the practice pages review past tables as well as the current week’s table.
We are aiming to do a lesson on any day we are home through the summer, even the weekends, so that if we aren’t home on a week day we aren’t getting behind. The book is set up to go through the 10s times tables in 10 weeks and I would really like to get it done in that amount of time or less. I started out with a bit of motivation and a treat, the boys get that weeks times tables worth of m&ms. Hey it’s summer!
If you are looking for a way to practice multiplication with your child I highly suggest Multiplication Facts That Stick: Help Your Child Master the Multiplication Facts for Good in Just Ten Weeks (Facts That Stick). It is simple, to the point and working well for my rising 7th and 4th grader.
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Multiplication is a different topic for many kids. Thanks so much for sharing your tips and resources!
Great info!
I totally need to check this method out! My almost 5th grader is twice-exceptional with a comorbid diagnosis of ADHD so he struggles with working memory and memorizing facts! I’ve been looking for a system to help him. whereas, my 8-year-old memorized all of his in less than a week. Their brains work completely opposite each other! Thanks for the recommendation!
It is amazing how different we all learn. I’d love to know if you try this out!